Alabama football offers several scholarships, including one to eighth-grader

Tuesday

Feb 26, 2013 at 12:01 AM

The University of Alabama coaching staff hosted its second Junior Day this past Saturday with more than 100 prospects from across the country in attendance. Alabama extended scholarship offers, welcomed several underclassmen and landed a new commitment.

By Andrew BoneSenior Recruiting Analyst

The University of Alabama coaching staff hosted its second Junior Day this past Saturday with more than 100 prospects from across the country in attendance. Alabama extended scholarship offers, welcomed several underclassmen and landed a new commitment.The biggest news of the weekend was the Crimson Tide receiving a commitment from Deionte Thompson, a defensive back from West Orange Stark High School in Orange, Texas (class of 2015). He will enter his junior season this fall. Thompson was offered a scholarship during the visit.Alabama welcomed plenty of top talent including Tony Brown, a five-star cornerback from Ozen High in Beaumont, Texas, and Elisha Shaw, a Rivals100 defensive tackle from Tucker High in Georgia. Brown and Shaw already held offers from Alabama before their trip. The coaching staff extended several new offers including to Matt Elam, defensive tackle from James Hardin High in Elizabethtown, Ky., and Koda Martin, tight end from Manvel High in Texas. “Getting offered (Saturday) was definitely the highlight,” Martin told The Tuscaloosa News. “Also getting to see their facilities — they’re pretty awesome. Getting to see the field and the new weight room was a pretty big deal. It was all great. Alabama is one of my top schools. It was a pretty impressive day. They win a lot of football games. They’re definitely one of my top schools right now.” Samaje Perine, a Rivals250 running back from Hendrickson High in Pflugerville, Texas, was also offered by the Crimson Tide. Perine, 5-foot-11, 233 pounds, said his two schools are Alabama and Oklahoma with a decision possibly coming soon.“I like everything about Alabama,” Perine said. “When you look at the program with the stability, all the success they have, and the way Coach (Nick) Saban runs his program it’s all pretty nice.” Jacob Pugh, a four-star linebacker from Godby High in Tallahassee, Fla., was one of the few Panhandle prospects in town. Pugh got an offer from Alabama during his visit. “They are No. 1 for me right now,” Pugh said. “They are the best. That’s big time for a school like them to offer. I want to go to a good quality school like Alabama. I don’t want to go too far from home.” Dylan Moses, a prospect for the class of 2017 from University School in Baton Rouge, La., will enter his freshman season this fall. The 6-1, 215-pound athlete was clocked last summer at the LSU camp at 4.48 in the 40-yard dash. LSU offered last summer. Alabama offered during his visit this past weekend. Moses played running back and linebacker in junior high. He wants to play in the secondary this fall “because Nick Saban is a defensive backs coach,” said Edward Moses, Dylan’s father. “The offer from Alabama was just so surreal. You hear about this type of stuff happening. He is only 14 though. He isn’t 17 or 18. He hasn’t touched a varsity football field yet. Coach Saban was talking to him like a grandfather. He was telling him he has a bright future ahead, to keep him grades up and to have the right temperament.”Other underclassmen among the visitors this past weekend included Kerryon Johnson, 2015 athlete from Madison Academy, Garrett Thomas, 2015 offensive tackle from Many High in La., and Gabe Angel, 2016 athlete from Wilson Central High in Lebanon, Tenn.